Vince Camuto Passes Away at 78

The designer leaves behind a multi-billion dollar shoe empire.

Footwear pioneer Vince Camuto has passed away from cancer at the age of 78 in his Connecticut home, WWD reports. The shoe designer has held a prolific career in the fashion industry for over 40 years, in which time he has helped create both The Nine West Group and The Camuto Group. Alongside former business parter Jerome Fisher, Camuto founded The Nine West Group in 1978 which was later sold to The Jones Group in 1999 for almost $900 million—and one of the leading footwear brands throughout the '80s and '90s. The Camuto Group, founded in 2001, has since created the labels Vince Camuto, VC Signature Vince Camuto and Louise et Cie and been sold in 62 countries across the globe. Camuto is also credited with starting the Jessica Simpson brand, which hit the billion dollar mark in 2014. Through all of his brands, as well as several licensing projects, the successful businessman leaves behind an incredible multi-billion dollar empire.

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